Deairing method



y I5, 1951 L. 1.. com ETAL 2,553,359

DEAIRING METHOD Filed Sept. 30, 1948 4 ooooooooooooooooooooooo'o m Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEAIRING METHOD Luton L; Cook and Edgar H. Krautheim, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Laclede-Christy Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 30, 1948, Serial No. 51,898

4 claims. 25-156) which is deleterious for many reasons Well known.

in the art. A discussion of this problem is found in the Ross et al. Patent No. 1,690,208.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of substantially eliminating air from ceramic material prior to slip casting tank blocks, and the like.

Another object'is to provide a novel method of removing air from ceramic material preparatory to casting the material into tank blocks, or

the like, in which moving elements normally employed in one form or another in the removal of air from ceramic material are dispensed with entirely, thereby insuring low maintenance and long uninterrupted usage of apparatus by means of which the present novel method is carried out.

Another object is to provide a novel method of removing air from ceramic material prior to casting which is simple in application and which is inexpensve.

Another object is to provide a novel method of removing air from ceramic material which is efficient in achieving its intended purpose.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a diagrammatic elevational view of apparatus through which the present novel method may be effectuated.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, there is shown a fabricated framework 2 of I-beams 4. The structure 2 supports apparatus for treating ceramic material, such as clay and inert ingredients, preparatory to slip casting tank blocks, and the like, and includes a mixing floor 6 and a second lower platform 8.

Mixing apparatus I0 for the ceramic material is supported above the mixing fioor 6 and, preferably, comprises a Simpson mixer, a well known type of mixer which includes a circular pan containing two mullers or wheels together with a scraper which forces the charge under the wheels to facilitate mixing. A motor I 1 drives the wheels of the mixer Ill. The mixed material passes by way of a chute [2 into a surge tank I 4, whence it passes by way of a flexible conduit ltinto a de-airingtank I8. A pinch valve l9 about the conduit I6 is hand operated by a chain 20. If desired, a motor may be used to operate this valve l9. At the lower end of the conduit it at its opening into the tank [8 is a grid 2| having openings approximately one inch in diameter through which the slip passes. I

The tank 18 is supported adjacent the platform 8 and includes observation ports 22 and 23 through which the operation going on within the tank may be observed by one standing on'the platform 8. A vacuum line 24 including a valve 26 leads from the top of the tank Hi to a vacuum pump (not shown). A baffle 28 is disposed within the tank I8 adjacent the takeoff opening into the vacuum line 24 for a purpose described below. Leading from the lower reduced end of the tank I8 is a flexible discharge conduit 30 having a pinch valve 32 thereabout operated by an air motor 34. q

A tank block mold 36 is disposed beneaththe open end of the discharge conduit 30 in a position to receive material therefrom and is supported on a vibrated platform 38 disposed on a platform 40 lifted by an air actuated piston 42. A roller conveyor 44 is provided for movement of the mold 36 to the floor 48. The mold 36 is shown in lifted position, lowered positions of the platforms 38 and 40 and the piston 42 being indicated at 38', 40', and 42, respectively.

Suitable hand rails 62 surround the mixer H! and associated elements. A suitable hand rail 64 also guards against an operator falling from the platform 8.

In carrying out the present novel method of de-airing ceramic material, the valve i9 is set to permit a ribbon of material to pass into the tank 18 through the grid 2| which breaks it up. It is to be understood that the consistency of the slip is just thin enough so that it will readily pass into the tank I8. It is also to be understood that any particular mix may be employed, since the present method is applicable to the slip casting process broadly. V

A vacuum is maintained on the tank Is at all times through the line '24 during the de-airing operation. This vacuum is effective to draw substantially all of the air from the surrounding material as it is fed into the tank I8 and broken up by the grid 2|. The vacuum will have a momentary breaking up effect on the strips of material fed into the tank l8 through the grid 2| and will, therefore, be effective to remove substantially all of the entrapped air. The momenunderstood that the vacuum 24 is not strong.

enough to bodily lift the material passing into the tank l8.

It is apparent that there has been provided a novel method of de-airing ceramic material which fulfills the novel advantages sought therefor. f

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements or steps, and rearrangement of parts or steps, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

I. The method of deaerating ceramic material preparatory to slip casting comprising the steps of feeding fluid ceramic material into a confined space, separating the flow of material into a plurality of ribbons as it enters the space, and drawing a vacuum on the ribbons of material as they pass through the space.

2. The method of deaerating ceramic material preparatory to slip casting comprising the steps of feeding fluid ceramic material into an enclosed area separating the material into a plu- 4 rality of strips as it enters the area, permitting the material to fall an appreciable distance, and pulling a vacuum on such material as it falls to remove air therefrom.

3. The method of deaerating ceramic material and of slip casting the deaired ceramic material to reduce subsequent air entrapment comprising the steps of feeding ceramic material into a substantially airtight enclosure as a plurality of ribbons, drawing a vacuum on said material as it is thus fed into the enclosure to remove air therefrom, and discharging said vacuum treated material into molds in a substantially continuous stre'am to reduce air entrapment to a minimum.

4. The method of deaerating ceramic material preparatory to slip casting comprising the steps of feeding ceramic material to a substantially airtight container, dividing the material into increments preparatory to dropping towards the 'b'ott'om of the container, permitting the incre ments to fall an appreciable distance, andpulling-a; continuous vacuum on the increments as they fall to remove the air therefrom.

LUTON L. COOK. I EDGAR. H. KRAUTHEIM.

'REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Compa May 13, 1947 

